Upper end airplane antenna mast



June 23, 1964 c, sAMur-:LsoN ETAL 3,138,423

UPPER END AIRPLANE ANTENNA MAST Original Filed June 22, 1953 QQ aux SQ BN QW .N .mi M W 4M f- I.\ i w v WN N\ uw QQ bmw QN bm United States Patent O" 3,138,423 Patented June 23, 1964 3,138,423 UPPER END AIRPLANE ANTENNA MAST Carl L. Samuelson, St. Paul, Minn., and Raymond C. Root and George Risk, Columbus, Nebr., assignors to Dale Products, Inc., Columbus, Nebr.

Continuation of application Ser. No. 638,658, Feb. 6, 1957, which is a continuation of application Ser. No. 363,236, .lune 22, 1953. This application Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 245,634

8 Claims.

This invention relates to airplane masts for aircraft and more particularly it is an object of this invention to provide an antenna mast having means for tightening the antenna wire at a chuck holding the wire in the mast.

A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna mast having a movable chuck assembly for tightening the antenna wire.

A further object is to provide an antenna mast having an antenna wire-holding chuck which is constructed for dismantling and for the easy removal of the antenna wire therefrom.

Yet aother object is to provide an antenna mast holding the antenna wire more securely than heretofore, particularly in the provision of a three-jaw chuck as only twojaw chucks have been used in the prior art.

A further object of the invention is to provide an antenna mast, the chuck assembly of which consumes a minimum of space for theY least amount of air resistance in flight. This is exceptionally important at the high speed which aircraft attain in modern warfare.

A particular object is to provide an antenna mast, all external parts of which are enclosed in a single integral housing 'for strength and economy of manufacture, with the exception of a detachable tapered member streamlining the rearward end of the mast streamlining portion also being an object of this invention.

Still another object is to provide an antenna mast having a chuck barrel molded into the body of the mast.

It is a particular object of the invention to provide many specific parts in construction designed to assist the action of the antenna wire holding mast while permitting the removal of the antenna Wire and certain parts of the mechanism for inspection.

A particular object of this invention is to provide an antenna mast usable with high frequency radio transmission.

This application is a continuation of applicants copending application Serial No. 638,658 tiled February 6, 1957, which is a continuation of the applicants now abandoned application VSerial No. 363,286, filed June v22, 1953.

Other and further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, drawings and claims, the scope of the invention not being limited to the drawings themselves as .the drawings are only for the purpose of illustrating a way in which the principles of this invention can be applied.

Other embodiments of the invention utilizing the same or equivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made as desired by those skilled in the art without departing from the purview of the appended claims and from the present invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE lis a side elevation of the upper ends of the antenna mast of this invention showing the interior thereof by breaking away certain exterior portions of many arts;

p FIGURE 2 is a detail of the antenna wire-holding chuck portion of the antenna mast; f

FlGURE 3 is a forward end view of the chuck body shown with a screw in place therein; and

FIGURE 4 is a view of the chuck barrel as seen in cross section in a horizontal plane, this view showing a slot herein for receiving a spring guide attached to the chuck ody.

The antenna mast of this invention includes` an upright bottom portion 10 which is of a streamlined shape in horizontal plan, having tapered convex surfaces on its forward and rearward sides.

The upright portion. 10 extends upwardly to a head portion 12 which is of an approximately cylindrical shape adapted for holding certain chuck mechanisms later described. The cylindrical portion 12 is preferably provided with a pointed nose 14 and is attached to the upright portion 10, the portions 10 and 12 forming the body of the antenna mast and being preferably integral with each other, being cast together.

vAt the time the body portion is molded together a chuck barrel 20 is in place extending longitudinally in the cylindrically shaped head portion 12. Also at the time of molding an electrically conductive connector rod 24 is in place in contact with the chuck barrel 2i) and disposed in a recess 26 in the bottom thereof. The connector rod 24 extends, downwardly through the upright portion 10 of the body of the mast and at its lower end connects to a feed through portion of the mast, not shown here. The said feed through portion forms a lower end of the mast and is almost entirely disposed inside the surface of the plane. Suitable means are provided for anchoring the lower end of the upright portion 1l) of the mast to the aircraft and such means do not form a part of this application.

Referring to the body portion of the mast, it will be seen that at the upper end of the upright portion 10 and at the rearward side thereof, the upright portion 10 curves upwardly and rearwardly to join the lower side of the cylindrically shaped head portion 12, leaving a concave rearward surface 30 which is rounded on its side.

The head portion 12 is provided at its rearward end with an opening generally indicated at 32 having a rearwardrnost threaded portion 34 and having a portion 36 disposed forwardly therefrom which is of a more contracted size and is of a cylindrical shape. l The threads 34 are for receiving the externally threaded 4forward end of an antenna support sleeve 38 which forms a tapered and streamlined rearward end for the head 12 of the mast and which supports the forward end of the antenna wire generally indicated at 40. The antenna wire includes an interior conductive wire 42 and insulation 44. The antenna support sleeve 38 is preferably formed of a somewhat resilient material whereby the rearward end of the sleeve 38 is adapted to lleX to greater degrees as its rearward end is approached. The rearward end of the sleeve 38 extends a considerable distance rearwardly along the antenna wire 40 for the purpose of spreading the amount of ilexing in order to spread the stress on the antenna wire at the-point of joinder with the mast.

The support sleeve 38 has an outer edge 46 at its forward end which is of the same size as the rearward end of the cylindrical head portion 12 of the mast and tapers rearwardly therefrom as seen at 48 in a first sharp tapered portion and then has a gradually tapered portion 50 leading into a substantially cylindrical portion 52 which has at its rearward end a gradually tapering portion 58 which terminates at its rearward end in a size very little larger in diameter than the insulation 44.

Referring to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that a washer 60V is disposed at the forward end of the support sleeve and on the rearward side of an end sealing screw 62, which latter is threadedly secured in the threaded rearward end 64 of the hollow interior of the chuck barrel 20. The screw 62 is preferably provided with a transverse slot 66, a half portion of which shows in FIGURES l and 2 as the screw is shown in sections.

Spaced a considerable distance inwardly from the screw 62 is a wire-tightening second screw 68. The second screw 68 is provided with an opening at its center extending forwardly and rearwardly therethrough as shown at 70. The opening 70 is similar to an opening 72 in the end screw 62. The openings 70 and 72 are for receiving the antenna wire 40 therethrough.

Forwardly of the wire tightening screw 68 is a miniature precision bearing 74 for facilitating rotation of a screw 68.

Forwardly of the bearing 74 a chuck body 80 is disposed, the chuck body 80 having an exterior cylindrically shaped end adapted to it into the cylindrically shaped inner end hollow portion 82 of the chuck barrel 20. The interior of the chuck body 80 is hollow and is provided with a tapered wall 86 which is of circular shape in cross section at any point forwardly and rearwardly along it but is of a tapering shape having a constricted rearward end tapering gradually inwardly from a substantially cylindrical forward end.

The rearward end of the tapered wall 86 is for receiving chuck jaws or chuck members 90 which are two in 'number preferably. The chuck jaws 90 are disposed equidistantly apart about the exterior of the forward end of the antenna wire 42, the forward end extending forwardly of the insulation 44 for fitting into the chuck jaws 90.

The chuck jaws 90 are pressed rearwardly by a spring 94 which causes the jaws 90 to compress against lche antenna wire 42 and the inner sides of the jaws 90 are provided with teeth 98 which are somewhat rounded on their edges to prevent damaging the wire 42. The tension of the wire 42 pulls against the jaws 90, causing them to clamp even tighter against the wire 42 as they are pulled rearwardly slightly against the inwardly tapering Walls 86 of the chuck body 80.

At its forward end the spring 94 is disposed about a spring retainer screw 100 which is threaded on its outermost exterior surface for threadedly fitting into threads 110 `on the interior of the forward end of the interior wall 86 of the chuck body 80. The rearward end of the retainer screw 100 is provided with a rearwardly extending protrusion 112 for receiving the forward end of the spring 94 thereabout.

The forward end of the spring retainer screw 100 is provided with a slot 114 extending transversely thereacross for receiving a screwdriver or other suitable tool.

The chuck barrel 20 is preferably provided with concave notches 130 extending around its exterior surface for the purpose of anchoring the chuck barrel 20 in the head 12 of the mast and the rearward edge of the chuck barrel 20 is curved as seen at 132 and 134 to avoid sharp conductive surfaces which might cause the discharge of electrical current.

The forward end of the chuck barrel 20 is provided with a substantially hemispherically shaped cap 150 which i-s adapted to iit in the complementally hemispherically shaped forward end 160 of the opennig 164 in the head 12. The rearward end of the cap 150 is of a cylindrical shape and integral with the hemispherical forward end portion thereof and the rearward end is inset into a suitable annular notch 180 in the exterior of the barrel 20. As best seen in FIGURE 3 the chuck barrel 20 has a notch 180 in the forward end thereof inwardly of which the chuck body 80 is seen. Inwardly of the chuck body 80 is the spring retainer screw 100 with its slot 114.

In FIGURE 3 a slot is seen at 190, the slot being at a side of the interior of the chuck barrel 20 and extendving forwardly and rearwardly therealong, the slot 190 p`r'obably being better described as a keyway. The keyway 190 is for the purpose of receiving a spring guide 194 which is best seen in FIGURE 4, and which extends outwardly from one side of the chuck body 80. The spring 194 is secured at its rearward end by suitable means'196 to the chuck body 80 and the spring 194 extends forwardly and outwardly, pressing against the sides of the keyWay 190 in order to retain the chuck body 80 in position against rotation at times when the wire tightening screw 68 is put in place.

The spring 194 also serves as an electrical contact between the chuck body and the chuck barrel 20.

As thus described it will be seen that by inserting the proper tool into the hollow interior of the chuck body and into the slot on the rearward side of the wire tightening screw the wire tightening screw 68 can be tightened to draw the antenna wire taut. As the first tool for this purpose, it is one having a semicircular shank with a hollow interior for receiving the antenna wire while the tool is rotated.

It will be seen that this invention has provided an antenna mast capable of dependably holding an aircraft antenna wire with minimum of air resistance and a suicient and proper conductance of electricity.

From the foregoing description, it is thought to be obvious that an airplane antenna mast constructed in accordance with our invention is particularly well adapted for use by reason of the convenience and facility with Which it may be assembled and operated, and it will also be obvious that our invention is susceptible of some change and modification without departing from the principles and spirit thereof, and for this reason we do not wish to be understood as limiting ourselves to the precise arrangement and formation of the seevral parts herein shown in carrying out our invention in practice, except as claimed.

We claim:

1. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having an interior opening,

means integral with said chuck barrel closing one end of said interior opening,

a chuck body slidably mounted in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

interlocking surfaces on the interior of said chuck barrel and the exterior of said chuck body yto limit relative rotation therebetween,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein,

an antenna wire ygripping means in said axial bore,

detachable means for closing the other end of said interior opening, said detachable means including movable means in said chuck barrel for engaging said chuck body, and

said detachable means adapted to receive an antenna wire, and said antenna wire gripping means adapted to engage and hold said antenna wire.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein said movable means includes a screw member threaded into said chuck barrel and a ball bearing means between the rear end of said chuck body and said screw member.

3. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel Ihaving an interior opening,

means integral with said chuck barrel closing one end of said interior opening,

a chuck body slidably mounted in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

a groove in the interior `opening of said chuck barrel,

a protruding element on the outer surface of said chuck body extending into said groove to limit relative rotation between said chuck barrel and said chuck body,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein,

an antenna wire gripping means in said axial bore,

detachable means for closing the other end of said interior opening, said detachable means including movable means in said chuck barrel for engaging said chuck body, and

said detachable means adapted to receive an -antenna wire, and said antenna Wire gripping means adapted to engage and hold said antenna wire.

4. The structure of claim 3 wherein said protruding element on the outer surface of said chuck body is a spring member.

5. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having an interior opening,

means integral with said chuck barrel closing one end Iof said interior opening,

a chuck body slidably mounted in the interior opening of said chuck barrel,

a groove in one of the two surfaces presented by the interior opening of said chuck barrel and the outer peripheral area of said chuck body,

a protruding element secured to the other of said two surfaces and extending into said groove to limit relative rotation between said chuck barrel and said chuck body,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein,

an antenna wire gripping means iu said axial bore,

detachable means for closing the other end of said interior opening, and

`said detachable means including movable means in said chuck barrel for engaging said chuck body,

said detachable means adapted to receive an antenna wire, and said antenna wire gripping means adapted to engage and hold said antenna wire.

6. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having an interior opening,

means integral with said chuck barrel closing one end of said interior opening,

a chuck body slidably mounted in the interior open ing of said chuck barrel,

means adjacent the surface of the interior opening of said chuck barrel and the outer surface of said chuck body to engage said chuck barrel and said chuck body to limit relative rotation therebetween,

said chuck body having an axial bore therein,

an antenna wire gripping means in said axial bore,

detachable means for closing the other end of said interior opening,

said detachable means including movable means in said chuck barrel for engaging said chuck body,

and an antenna wire extending into said chuck barrel, through said movable means and into said chuck body to be engaged and held by said antenna wire gripping means.

7. The structure of claim 6 wherein the means adjacent the surface of the interior opening of said chuck barrel and the outer surface of said chuck body comprises a groove on the surface of the interior opening of said chuck barrel and an elongated spring element secured to said chuck body and extending forwardly into said groove.

8. In an antenna mast,

a chuck barrel having a hollow interior provided with a threaded cylindrical rearward end portion and a cylindrical forward end portion,

a wire tightening screw disposed in -the forward end of said threaded interior, said tightening screw also having an opening therethrough for receiving said antenna wire,

means on said wire tightening screw for facilitating the rotation thereof,

a hollow chuck body disposed in the cylindrical forward end 'of the interior of said chuck barrel,

said chuck body having an interior wall tapered i11- wardly at its rearward end,

said chuck body being slidably disposed in said chuck barrel,

chuck members disposed in said chuck body adapted to engage an antenna wire therebetween whereby when said wire tightening screw is rotated forwardly it will push said chuck body forwardly and increase the tension on said antenna Wire,

spring means for urging said chuck jaws rearwardly,

a keyway extending forwardly and rearwardly in said chuck barrel,

and a guide spring having one end attached to said chuck body and having its other end extending outwardly into said keyway for preventing rotation of said chuck body with respect to said chuck barrel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 430,176 Cross et al June 17, 1890 674,244 McGeorge May 14, 1901 1,233,175 Brewster July 10, 1917 1,368,473 Beatty Feb. 15, 1921 1,379,165 Burns et al. May 24, 1921 1,750,014 Lofgren Mar. 11, 1930 1,997,649 Ohlund Apr. 16, 1935 2,209,814 Finger July 30, 1940 2,210,096 Pennell Aug. 6, 1940 2,218,496 Phillips Oct. 15, 1940 2,346,706 Stoner Apr. 18, 1944 2,397,025 MacBlane Mar. 19, 1946 2,552,313 Friedberg et al. May 8, 1951 2,626,353 McGee Jan. 20, 1953 2,647,941 Matson et a1 Aug. 4, 1953 2,665,331 Berndt Jan. 5, 1954 2,705,255 Slaughter et al Mar. 29, 1955 2,735,688 Duchesneau et al. Feb. 21, 1956 

1. IN AN ANTENNA MAST, A CHUCK BARREL HAVING AN INTERIOR OPENING, MEANS INTERGAL WITH SAID CHUCK BARREL CLOSING ONE END OF SAID INTERIOR OPENING, A CHUCK BODY SLIDABLY MOUNTED IN THE INTERIOR OPENING OF SAID CHUCK BARREL, INTERLOCKING SURFACES ON THE INTERIOR OF SAID CHUCK BARREL AND THE EXTERIOR OF SAID CHUCK BODY TO LIMIT RELATIVE ROTATION THEREBETWEEN, SAID CHUCK BODY HAVING AN AXIAL BORE THEREIN, AN ANTENNA WIRE GRIPPING MEANS IN SAID AXIAL BORE, DETACHABLE MEANS FOR CLOSING THE OTHER END OF SAID INTERIOR OPENING, SAID DETACHABLE MEANS INCLUDING MOVABLE MEANS IN SAID CHUCK BARREL FOR ENGAGING SAID CHUCK BODY, AND SAID DETACHABLE MEANS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE AN ANTENNA WIRE, AND SAID ANTENNA WIRE GRIPPING MEANS ADAPTED TO ENGAGE AND HOLD SAID ANTENNA WIRE. 